US Model 1917 S&W Army .45

one eye joe · #51 05-19-2018, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KneverKnew

Here's a crazy thought. Buy an extra 1917 .45acp cylinder and ream it out an extra 1/16" to chamber some 460 Rowland rounds!!! I have a conversion installed in my Springfield 1911 and it's what I've been carrying in the woods in place of my S&W 629 .44Mag. The only question is can the 1917 take the power of such a round? It gives you 44 mag performance out of what's basically a .45acp case on steroids. My standard 230grain Hornady XTP does 1300 fps from my 1911 conversion. It's a great round.

JMHO, BUT I WOULD NOT SUBJECT YOUR OLD WARHORSE, TO THE BATTERING OF THE ".460 Rowland rounds", AS YOU DESCRIBE THEM. I'M NOT A METALLURGIST, BUT I WONDER ABOUT THE STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY OF A WEAPON, MADE SO LONG AGO.......

I SUGGEST THAT YOU SHOOT WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR, AND IT WILL LAST THROUGH YOUR LIFETIME, TO BE PASSED ON TO YOUR HEIR......

Hondo44 · #52 05-19-2018, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muley Gil

"Is there any reason I couldn't simply swap the 45 ACP cylinder for a 45 LC?"

The frame lug is thicker on a 1917, due to the shorter length of the .45 ACP cylinder. A .455 cylinder, rechambered to .45 Colt, can be fitted to a 1917, if a provision is made for the thicker frame lug, such as turning a shallow groove on the .455/.45 Colt cylinder.

The easiest way to convert to 45 Colt is to ream the original cyl chambers only to a depth that allows the 45 Colt cartridge to stick out of the cyl the same amount as the 45 ACP.

In other words, the colt rims do not rest on the cyl face, the cartridges headspace on the case mouth like the ACP does.

The cyl length is not changed and the frame lug still works as is. The great side benefit is the gun will still properly shoot ACP (albeit must use clips), and 45 Auto Rim! Another benefit is that standard 45 Colt ammo is only in the 15,000 max pressure range.

The .451" barrel is the right size for 45 Colt and is the same dimension still used by S&W for their 45 Colt barrels. Since the ACP guns have rather shallow lands (for hardball ammo), the typical .452" 45 COLT lead bullets will shoot quite well.

KneverKnew · #53 05-19-2018, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by one eye joe

JMHO, BUT I WOULD NOT SUBJECT YOUR OLD WARHORSE, TO THE BATTERING OF THE ".460 Rowland rounds", AS YOU DESCRIBE THEM. I'M NOT A METALLURGIST, BUT I WONDER ABOUT THE STRENGTH AND INTEGRITY OF A WEAPON, MADE SO LONG AGO.......

I SUGGEST THAT YOU SHOOT WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR, AND IT WILL LAST THROUGH YOUR LIFETIME, TO BE PASSED ON TO YOUR HEIR......

I was just enjoying a pipe dream guys. I think a 460 Rowland revolver would be great, but I'm not going to brutalize this 100 year old pistol that way. I just returned from the range as a matter of fact and I put a LOT of round downrange with the 1917. I started out with three loaded full moon clips but ended up hand loading each round individually. The clips hurt my hands too much to load. I have arthritis pretty bad. Anyway, it became very clear off the bat that at 10 yards I was hitting 3" high and left. I was getting really nice groups too. So I just guesstimated some good 'ol North Florida windage, aimed low and right, and started putting those groups dead on in the bullseye. I can only hope I can improve on the groups sizes once my wolf springs arrive. I just have to try and do something about that monstrous trigger pull, both DA and SA. But still, it is definitely serviceable after 100 years.

KneverKnew · #54 05-19-2018, 07:33 PM

Top group was first, aiming dead on. Second group in the bull, aiming low and right. Quite adequate even with the tuff trigger pull.

And again...black crossed dot was aim point.

KneverKnew · #55 05-19-2018, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hondo44

The easiest way to convert to 45 Colt is to ream the original cyl chambers only to a depth that allows the 45 Colt cartridge to stick out of the cyl the same amount as the 45 ACP.

In other words, the colt rims do not rest on the cyl face, the cartridges headspace on the case mouth like the ACP does.

The cyl length is not changed and the frame lug still works as is. The great side benefit is the gun will still properly shoot ACP (albeit must use clips), and 45 Auto Rim! Another benefit is that standard 45 Colt ammo is only in the 15,000 max pressure range.

The .451" barrel is the right size for 45 Colt and is the same dimension still used by S&W for their 45 Colt barrels. Since the ACP guns have rather shallow lands (for hardball ammo), the typical .452" 45 COLT lead bullets will shoot quite well.

Now this! sounds like a project worth trying. I'm still of a mind to get a second identical cylinder and converting as above. I like the sound of it. Yes I do.

S&WsRsweet · #56 05-22-2018, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wiregrassguy

It's rare to find one under $500 these days no matter how bad it looks. I acquired this one recently in a trade for an attractive price. It's been refinished but looks pretty darn good to this redneck.

I like that gun Wiregrass Guy ,but I too am a redneck and take that label as a high compliment .